Our work
Parliamentary institutions and networks play a critical role in the governance of agrifood systems. Through legislation, budgetary authority and oversight mechanisms, they can help align national policies with global commitments while addressing trade-offs, distributional impacts, and long-term sustainability in agrifood systems.
FAO partners with parliamentary organizations and institutions across the world, as well as supporting the work of more than 70 parliamentary networks in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. These networks and alliances have contributed to the adoption of approximately 100 laws that strengthen food security and nutrition, in areas such as family farming, school feeding, gender, agroecology, soil, cooperatives and climate change.
Key facts:
- In 2022, a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for the first time recognized the essential role of national parliaments in advancing the SDGs through their legislative, budgetary and oversight functions.
- FAO’s work encompasses capacity development, technical support, policy coordination and partnership facilitation to strengthen parliamentary engagement in agrifood systems governance, with a focus on accountability, policy coherence and evidence-based decision-making.
- In 2023, the Global Parliamentary Pact against Hunger and Malnutrition was agreed by countries around the world as a reference framework for parliamentary engagement on food security, nutrition and agrifood systems transformation, in line with global commitments and FAO’s strategic priorities.
- FAO organizes Global Parliamentary Summits against Hunger and Malnutrition, bringing parliamentarians together to set legislative priorities on transforming agrifood systems and ending hunger and to share best practices. These Summits facilitate dialogue between key stakeholders to mobilize resources and expertise and strengthen global parliamentary cooperation.